Digital Commons Network^™

Democracy And Organized Crime: The Case Of Brazil, Abigail Tank

Student Research Submissions

Local-level democracy is crucial to the strength of a country’s democracy. In Brazil, informal housing settlements known as favelas have started to outpace the growth of the cities in which they exist, yet favelas often lack equal access to democratic institutions that ensure citizens’ rights. Organized crime groups have emerged in these settlements that threaten the strength and stability of local-level democracy. This yields the question, “How does organized crime impact democracy in Brazil?” Through case studies of Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte, this thesis explores whether criminal organizations influence political participation in Brazilian favelas. The case studies are …

Migrant Children And Legislation: Integrating Knowledge About Trauma Into Policy, Yolennys E. Albornoz

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This study seeks to integrate some knowledge about trauma into migration policies in the U.S. regarding children. Migration is not a novel concept; it is a dynamic phenomenon that experiences continuous changes and constantly increases in numbers. Globally, the United States has been the primary destination for foreign migrants for a long time, and most of them are Latinos who cross the U.S. and Mexico border. Here, I explore how children face trauma in their home country, which forces them to migrate. Also, while they migrate and after they have migrated, exposing the three stages of trauma for migrant children. …

Beyond Recognition: The Significance Of External Legitimacy For De Facto States In The Global Arena, Megan K. Payler Ms

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This dissertation investigates the concept of external legitimacy and its implications for de facto states in the international system. Previous research on state recognition has primarily relied on United Nations recognition as a binary measure, neglecting the nuanced variation in the external legitimacy of de facto states. To address this gap, this study introduces a new External Legitimacy Dataset and develops a comprehensive measure of external legitimacy. Using this dataset, the study demonstrates the utility of the measure by providing latent estimates for 31 de facto states and predicting violence based on their level of external legitimacy. The results indicate …

Human Trafficking In The Americas: Comparison Of Original Source Compilation Versus Unodc Data, Ivette Avila Jimenez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

International human trafficking (IHT) is a type of criminal activity that involves groups and individuals who facilitate the global movement and exploitation of people, often by illegal means. Estimates show that, worldwide, there are over 25 million victims of human trafficking at any given time; however, estimates are prone to under and overcounting. Focusing on the Americas, this study compared the quality of two data sources that could be used to observe IHT. Country-to-country IHT networks generated from 9 years of researcher compiled governmental and non-governmental data (2008-2017) was compared with networks generated from data downloaded from the United Nations …

The Perpetuation Of Hiv Risk In Latinx Immigrations: A Cross-National Perspective, J. M. Aleman

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Research indicates that migration is a social determinant of health that increases the risk of acquiring HIV. What is less understood, however, are the pathways through which immigration influences HIV risk. This study employed a cross-national perspective and utilized a social determinants of health framework to understand how structural factors, such as economic conditions and immigration policies and their enforcement, influence HIV risk among migrants. While mobility, migration and displacement are associated with increased HIV risk, they are not inherently the cause but rather a condition under which vulnerability is increased indicating that other distal, upstream, or structural forces are …

Navigating Sense Of Home: Migration Experiences Of Home And Community, Andrew Peter Camilleri

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Migrants experience significant stresses when transitioning to find a sense of belonging from one country to another (Kirmaryer et. al 2011), particularly when the nature of migration is forced. Language barriers, currency differences, different foods, written and unwritten rules of conduct as well as different climates all contribute to make the acculturative process difficult and stressful (Jackson & Bauder, 2014). Understanding how migrants navigate this process and the resources required to successfully integrate within a new host community is an important area of research both for migrants and the host communities.

Using an archival dataset collected by researchers from the …

Combating Illegal, Unreported And Unregulated (Iuu) Fishing In Ecuador:: The Maritime Authority Approach For The Exercise Of Coastal State Rights, Daniela Andrade Tamayo

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Implementation Of Policies In Addressing Illegal, Unreported, And Unregulated (Iuu) Fishing In The Philippines: A Reappraisal Of Established Mechanisms, Jethro R. Padama

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Working With Other Immigrants Brings The Parts That I Lost Back To Me: The Experiences Of Latin American Immigrant Therapists Working With Latin American Immigrant Populations, Elizabeth P. Rivera

Doctoral Dissertations

Therapists who work with traumatized populations are vulnerable to experiencing trauma indirectly. This experience may be exacerbated for those who have experienced trauma themselves. As LatAm immigrant populations have often experienced trauma at the various migration phases, therapists who are LatAm immigrants and work with LatAm immigrant clients may also experience secondary traumatization as an inherent part of their work. While the research on secondary trauma spans decades, there is a dearth of literature on the experiences of LatAm immigrant therapists specifically. This qualitative dissertation study begins the conversation of what the lived experiences of LatAm immigrant therapists are via …

How The Drug Trade Is Facilitated Online: A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis, Jose Aguilar

Online Theses and Dissertations

The drug trade is part of society and will, therefore, continue to evolve as society evolves. Technology plays a significant role in the evolution of society and the drug trade alike. Technological developments such as the internet have facilitated our lives. Several conditions have contributed to the evolution of the drug trade, including the increased and intensifying criminalization of material spaces, which has led to people engaging in crime in and across cyberspace(s). The transnational nature of the emergent digital drug trade has brought with it unique jurisdictional concerns as the globalized world intersects with the global internet to facilitate …

Drug Cartels And Government In Mexico: A Replication And Extension, Lindsey A. Beckstead

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This paper analyzes the relationship between drug cartels and the government in Mexico. It also seeks to determine the reasons for an upsurge of violence and cartel related murders in Mexico.

Examining Intergenerational Trauma And Mental Health Supports Within The Latinx Community: A Rapid Review, Liliana Ferrufino

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

Intergenerational trauma is a phenomenon experienced by many individuals including those within the Latinx community. This literature review examines the mental health challenges faced by Latinx youth, including depression, anxiety, and the impact of bicultural stress and discrimination. Additionally, the literature review discusses existing intergenerational trauma interventions such as the Intergenerational Trauma Treatment Model and a multi-tiered approach in schools. The current rapid review explored what methods have been evaluated to address the mental health needs of Latinx youth. After a search of databases, three studies were selected. The methodology and findings from each publication is briefly summarized, highlighting the …

The Evolving Role Of Women In The Sinaloa Cartel: An Analysis Of The Relationship Between Drug Trafficking Organizations, Female Agency, And Economic Mobility, Catherine Page, Kennady Leigh Hertz

Honors Theses

Exploring the role of women in Mexican drug trafficking organizations is a topic that has gained significant traction in the past 30 years. Despite the increase of literature on the topic, few papers theorize as to why women participate. This product sought to explore the various reasons why women participate in Mexican drug trafficking organizations, either willingly, or against their wishes. We hypothesized that women join drug trafficking organizations for two primary reasons: a) they are coerced by male figures in their life, and b.) they participate willingly in an effort to gain economic mobility. To test our hypothesis, we …

Understanding The Significance Of Building A School In Belize Through Action Research, Stephen Todd Speer

Theses & Dissertations

Research Focus. In Central America, the country of Belize shares its border with Guatemala and Mexico. These countries, with El Salvador and Honduras, are known as the most dangerous areas in our world outside active war zones (Dudlry, 2012; Edwards & Gill, 2002; UNODC, 2019). Crime is the largest contributor to instability in the region and creates a dangerous environment that must be reduced. Reduction of crime can correlate to an increase in available educational opportunities (Edwards, 2002; OSAC, 2019). The U.S. government conducts foreign humanitarian programs that increase educational opportunities in hope of reducing crime and stabilizing the region …

A Satellite Imagery Approach To Estimating Migratory Flows In Guatemala Using Convolutional Neural Networks, Sarah Larimer

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Being able to predict migratory flows is important in ensuring political, social, and economic stability. In the wake of violence, unrest, natural disasters, and social pressures, millions of mi- grants have fled Central America in search of a better life. However, due to the infrequent nature and high cost of census data, there is a need for a more remote and up to date approaches. Con- volutional Neural Networks offer a computer vision based approach that is cheaper and with significantly less lag. In this study, we seek to evaluate the effectiveness of different convolu- tional neural networks in predicting …

Rethinking ‘Feminicide’: The Role Of Organized Crime Groups In Increased Rates Of Feminicide In Mexico, Giselle Figueroa

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Why has feminicide significantly increased in Mexico over the past two decades? Previous feminicide research in Mexico has centered around the idea that the introduction of neoliberal politics changed family structures and increased the vulnerability of women as they entered the workforce. However, this explanation does not fully explain patterns of political violence against women in Mexico. I argue that Mexico’s War on Drugs and the intrinsic patriarchal ideologies and structures of organized crime groups (OCGs) reinforce gender hierarchies and increase the vulnerability of women. To evaluate my argument, I analyze state-level public government data on organized crime and feminicide …

Modern Slavery: A Thorough Examination On Human Trafficking Of Indigenous Women And Children In Mexico, Sarah Altuwaijri

International Studies (MA) Theses

Modern-day slavery is an international crime against humanity which affects millions of lives each year. Human trafficking, a form of Modern Slavery, has negative long-lasting implications on trafficked victims and society, particularly vulnerable members such as indigenous women and children. This study examines human trafficking and forced labor in Mexico with a focus on indigenous women and children. It uses a mixed methodology composed of both qualitative and quantitative data. Qualitative data is used to analyze historical materials related to Spanish colonialism in Mexico, while quantitative data is used to measure poverty, numbers of trafficked victims, and to establish the …

Crónicas De Los Inocentes: Los Efectos De La Guerra Contra El Narcotráfico En México Durante El Nuevo Milenio, Citlalli Zavala

Senior Theses and Projects

In 2006, Felipe Calderón became Mexico’s 63^rd president, and within 11 days of his presidency, he declared a “War on Drugs” to combat drug-related violence that has been pervasive for more than 17 years. His plan was to send out thousands of military troops to the states most affected by narcotrafficking and violence. However, the number of homicides, kidnappings, and extorsions surged dramatically during his 6-year term and his alleged “war.” Three years later in 2009, the Spanish journalist Judith Torrea, moved to Ciudad Juarez to document the experiences of those who daily suffered the most as a consequence …

The Egyptian National Anti-Trafficking Law ‘Adoption Process And Assessment’, Nourhane Awad

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is about the impact of Egyptian national laws on the protection of African migrants and refugees. Egypt has been considered a transit country for African migrants and refugees fleeing their countries toward European countries or Israel in the past due to its specific geographic location. For that reason, Egypt is considered one of the essential parts of the trafficking process in the middle east. For that reason, it is essential to study and explore how the Egyptian government is controlling and governing the trafficking of persons. In addition, it is important to understand its institutional setup and framework …

Factors Influencing The Relationship Between The Latinx Community And Law Enforcement, Silvia Gramajo Mazariegos

Social Justice | Senior Theses

The study has quantitative and qualitative aspects. The quantitative aspect measures how attitudes toward law enforcement and fear are related and how attitudes toward law enforcement and willingness to seek help from law enforcement are related. The qualitative aspect explores how trust plays a role in the relationship between the Latinx community and law enforcement. The qualitative aspect of the study also seeks to address how the overall relationship between the Latinx community and law enforcement can be improves. Participants completed a quantitative survey that measured their attitudes towards law enforcement, fear towards law enforcement, and willingness to accept help …

Inequality And Violence: The Case Of Brazil, Kimberly Forsyth

Dissertations and Theses

As a dominant economic powerhouse in Latin America, Brazil paradoxically exhibits profound socioeconomic divides and egregious rates of violence. This study seeks to illuminate the extent of the intricate relationship between Brazil's inherent inequalities and its propensity for violence by employing a combination of qualitative and quantitative methodologies. The study focuses on the years from 2002 to 2021, a period characterized by pivotal social, economic, and political transformations. Utilizing the United Nations definition of homicide as a primary measure of violence, I collected data from Brazilian health repositories for all 27 federative unit's annual reported number of homicides. The research …

Utilization-Focused Evaluation On The Impact Of A Sports-Based Youth Development On Unaccompanied Youth Students, Eric Cortez

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Unaccompanied immigrant youth (UIY) face obstacles that can hinder their education in their host countries. Given that educational attainment can help interrupt intergenerational cycles of poverty, the examination of support systems for UIY is critical. This study examined the role of sports-based youth development (SBYD) programs in supporting UIY students using a utilization-focused evaluation. To do this, two groups’ high school graduation rates were compared: (a) UIY participating in an SBYD program and (b) UIY not participating in a SYBD program. In addition to this quantitative analysis, UIY were surveyed and interviewed to contextualize the results of the graduation rate …

The Un-Intended Effects Of Risky Mandates, Robert Wood

Theses and Dissertations--Political Science

In May 1948, the United Nations launched its first peacekeeping mission named the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO). Since this first mission, the United Nations has launched over 70 peacekeeping missions in regions such as Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Africa (Bellamy and Williams, 2015). The overarching goal of the United Nations, and the Security Council as the organ responsible for authorizing peacekeeping missions, is to protect international peace (United Nations, 1945a). However, the means of achieving international peace differs across missions. One source of variation concerning the means of achieving peace is found in peacekeeping mission mandates. While …

Human Trafficking: The Impact Of Covid-19 On Labor Trafficking In The Us, Anthony A. Mottola

Theses and Dissertations

Human trafficking is a global phenomenon where traffickers prey upon their victims without discriminating against age, gender, ethnic background, or nationality. The United States (US) is not immune to the human rights violations of human trafficking. The victims of human trafficking are coerced into a life of exploitation through forced labor or sexual exploitation. Many victims are migrants from disadvantaged countries that travel to the US seeking employment but end up the victims of abuse, both physically and mentally, at the hands of traffickers. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic devastated the global economy, forcing quarantines, travel bans, and social distancing. …

Why Are We Not Worth Saving? Latin American Immigrant Women's Experiences With Post-9/11 Crimmigration Policies And Asylum-Seeking In The United States, Kaye Romans

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis discusses Crimmigration—the convergence of criminal policies and immigration law—in a post-9/11 world as it relates to Latin American Immigrant women seeking asylum in the United States. Utilizing case law, legislation, and legal scholarship, I situate these policies in the broader context of immigration law both nationally and internationally, focusing on key post-9/11 legislation and policies such as Operation Streamline, Operation Liberty Shield, and Title 42, as well as key post-9/11 case law dealing with Latin American women seeking asylum in the United States. With these foundational understandings, I provide possible solutions that would lessen the harms presented to …

Food As A Vector For Change: Lessons From The Third Sector On Improving Livelihoods With Nutritional Knowledge In Medellín And Bogotá, Solomon Treister

Honors Theses

In this thesis I argue that improving diet in communities depends on building nutritional knowledge. In examining the role of community level organizations, I look specifically at how knowledge is conveyed through agriculture and gastronomy. This project analyzes how civil society organizations work to reintegrate individuals into food systems, compelling consumers to take agency over their diets and pursue better livelihoods. The industrialization of food systems has fundamentally changed the way humans connect with food and diet. In Colombia, internal displacements and urban migration have accelerated a loss of connection with the land and food processes. At the same time, …

A Queer Series Of Events: A Comparative Examination Of Same-Sex Marriage Legalization, Michael Shea

Political Science Dissertations

As of 2020, same-sex marriage has been legalized at the national level in 28 countries. This dissertation examines the factors that make legalization of same-sex marriage (same-sex marriage) more likely. Using quantitative analysis and a customized index, The Rainbow Index, to capture overall country friendliness towards LGB equality, this dissertation shows that a combination of secular and emancipative values, a high degree of LGB mobilization capacity, and opportunities for transnational advocacy networks to connect with and support local activists make legalization more likely. Furthermore, this combination of variables, which together represent a country’s friendliness to LGB equality, is more predictive …

Main Factors Contributing To The High Femicide Rate In Mexico, Mikensi Ehlinger

Honors Projects

Femicide has become an urgent issue in Mexico. Many young women and girls are murdered or disappear every year. There are three main factors contributing to the high rate of femicide in Mexico. These factors are the ramifications of the cultural practice of machismo, a lack of detailed laws, and negligence by figures in authority. Despite domestic and international demands for action, the government has yet to make effective change.

Memory And Resistance, Cami Quinteros

Masters Theses

The centuries-old neocolonial relationship between the United States and Latin America is marked by acts of silencing, either directly in the hands of U.S. foreign affairs organizations or by proxy governments economically supported by the United States. These attempts to de-memorialize the atrocities of the past consolidate the power dynamic between the inheritors of colonial rule, and those who were colonized. U.S. interventionist policies––borne of corporate interests, the safeguarding of capitalism, and a skewed sense of national security––have created mass and enduring violence in Latin America, resulting in waves of migration north, where the journeys of the displaced are often …

The Survivors Of The Train: Disability, Testimonio, And Activism In Migrants With Disabilities, Claudia J. Morales

Doctoral Dissertations

Abstract My dissertation centers the healing processes and praxes of migrants from Central America who have suffered injuries resulting in amputations on their way to the US through Mexico atop an old freight train known as "La Bestia" (The Beast). My scholar activism is based on fieldwork and research conducted with amputated migrants recovering at rehabilitation centers in central Mexico and alongside the activist group Migrant Disabilities Organization (MDO) based in California. My contributions place emphasis on converging dialogues between Afro-Indigenous conocimiento/knowledge and theory from medical and linguistic anthropology (specifically Aulino’s phenomenological approach to the praxis of care and Arnold’s …